The Voice - Match preview #22: Bradford City vs Port Vale Monday 29th December 2025 7.45pm

Would they , how many chances did PV create to come to that conclusion ?

 

Port Vale worked hard but lacked quality.

Stockley was terrible, very poor player, Cole slightly better but unable to influence the game.

Nothing really there in their midfield either. Could be doomed if they can't score.

 

Don't take the bait Idle, he's not a City fan - just after responses and attention

 

Just got back from the game and haven't read all the comments, but that was an ugly game of football. however this team knows how to compete and grind it out. I think tonight confirms what I've been thinking. 'there isn't much between any of the teams in this division, top to bottom and any team can beat any other, however we seem like one of the hardest to beat.

 

Are you really thinking that had we played a team like Cardiff, Bolton or an in form Huddersfield that we wouldn't have been talking about a much different result.

Yes there are no easy games, but in perspective we had no control whatsoever of game against the bottom side in league who had been pumped by five on Saturday.

Yes we won but let's not hide from the fact that was a badly managed performance.

Also a rather telling one I think, in that Alexander didn't really trust any of the players at his disposal on the bench. It was crying out for a change but he persisted with what he had

 

Another game where we've had to fight hard for a win in a game that wasn't pretty or full of chances.
This last month has reminded me a lot of the January/February period from last season where we weren't great but we were picking up wins and this game was a lot like the Accrington home game in that period where it was tough with no chances for either side but won the game with a worldie strike from Pattison from a corner.

 

We’ll soon find out.

We play 3 of the current top 5 in January.

 

They have just sacked the manager and in situations like that players find another level not a lot of quality but much more effort. They didn’t give us much room to play but didn’t create a thing. We had a number of good efforts. I am going to watch the results from port vale over the next few weeks to see if there results improve. With the effort they put in I think they will

 

I think Humphrys deserves a shout out for his best Andy Cook impression. He made a couple of great defensive headers in the latter part of that second half. I'll be honest that isn’t something I ever expected of him.

 

It would be fairer to say that aside from Humphrys header that hit the post, we didn't create anything either. Their keeper didn't have a shot to save and given how poor his handling was, we should have tested him more.

 

The great shot from Humphrey headed of the line

 

100% clean sheet record since Baldwins injury.

It's almost like I know what I'm talking about.

 

See if you can also find the post that said he was terrible at shooting just a couple of starts into his City career

 

We are going to start 2026 with Mansfield who are coming off two great away wins. Followed by Blackpool who are also on great form. But some of these “poor teams” we have played recently are producing good results. Wigan for instance a great 2-0 win away tonight

 

Give over. We've been absolutely dire to watch with Baldwin in the side so let's not pretend we lack a cutting edge without his crossfield balls into the 3rd row of the Midalnd Road.

 

Just got home.

Hats off to Metcalfe-that was a belter of a goal.

PV were just a set of thugs who had no game plan at all other than to Twit the ball up from so bambi could chase. After we scored they complained to the ref about us time wasting!! Absolutely love that these teams that come here to not play football get what they deserve. feck all. Vale fans were very quiet-probably knew what was coming I guess.

We got dragged down to their utter dross football. They will go down as not one player looked league 1 standard.

Yet another game we have come out with 3 points whereas year or so ago we would have not. Nice to see.

 

I find no subs until very late in the game unbelievable especially as Alexander keeps telling us it's a squad game and he will rotate his squad as players cant be asked to play 4 games in 10 days well Sarcevic was blowing out of his arse after that knock first half, why not give Kav or Swan 15 minutes against tired legs, I find some of his decisions baffling at times but who am I to question the man who has us sitting 3rd in League One.

 

I know it's a bit of a 'reach' but he won us about 5 corners in the final 20. He's great at the 'micros' like winning possession for us high up the pitch and allowing other attacking players time to get bodies forward with his ability to keep possession in the final third. He's constantly involved.

 

Indeed. GA really needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and work out what's gone so far wrong.

Top points achieved in home games across the EPL and PL and the top five european leagues. Why are we being subjected to that? I take it you have sent a strongly worded email to him. Who do you want to replace him? Darren Moore perhaps? He has single handedly taken Port Vale to the brink of League 2 .

 

What a weird league table by the way. 9th place Wycombe are just 3 points off the relegation zone.

Above 9th there is a gap now, for example, we are 14 points clear of 9th and we are now 5 points clear of 4th.

Top 3 very consistent.

I think as we approach the half way mark, its fair to say, we are definitely in a genuine promotion race again.